Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Haowen Yang, Jurjen Tel
Summary: This review presents recent advancements in global and local signal generators, highlighting their applications in studying temporal and spatial signaling activity, as well as the strengths and limitations of each signal generator type.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yangchao Xia, Yaowen Xing, Xiahui Gui, Yijun Cao
Summary: This study used chemical force microscopy to characterize the interaction forces between a mineral surface and two collector molecules, and demonstrated that AFM is a credible technique for investigating the interaction mechanism between a mineral and a collector at a molecular level, providing critical guidance for future collector screening and design.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sankalpa Venkatraghavan, Sathvik Anantakrishnan, Karthik Raman
Summary: Microbial consortia exhibit spatiotemporal organization through bacterial communication. Simulations show that secretion rates play a key role in controlling the behavior of the coupled consortia. These models provide a simplified and controllable approach to pattern formation in synthetic biology.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ying Xu, Bingkun Tian, Sunmiao Fang, Wanlin Guo, Zhuhua Zhang
Summary: A comprehensive first-principles study reveals that oxygen functional groups in carbon black sheets greatly enhance the binding energy and charge transfer between water and graphene, with the carboxyl group being most attractive to water molecules and driving electron transfer. Protonation of water molecules can further enhance the water-graphene interaction.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cecilia Spedalieri, Janina Kneipp
Summary: This mini review discusses the progress of SERS probing in cells over the past years, exploring the biochemical composition of cells and the cellular processes involving biomolecules and cellular compartments. The combination of live cell SERS with various approaches has led to a better understanding of cellular physiology and the utilization of the selectivity of SERS.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Chris Timberlake, Andrea Vinante, Francesco Shankar, Andrea Lapi, Hendrik Ulbricht
Summary: The experimental method proposed in this study utilizes Meissner effect levitation of neodymium ferromagnets to measure gravitational interactions between milligram masses. By carefully driving the motion of levitating magnets on resonance with each other, it is possible to measure the gravitational field produced by small masses and test models of modified Newtonian dynamics.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
E. Josephine Boder, Beatriz G. G. Goncalves, Charlotta G. G. Lebedenko, Ipsita A. A. Banerjee
Summary: This study used homology modeling to predict the binding sites between the low-density lipoprotein-related receptor 1 (LRP1) and misfolded Tau. Short peptide segments derived from the predicted binding site were found to have critical contacts with Tau and could reduce its cellular internalization. This finding suggests that peptides derived from the LRP1 receptor could alter the internalization of its ligands.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gaochao Liu, Yang Huang, Sarah Ann Bird, Huawei Zhang, Fei Wang, Haijun Tian
Summary: Based on a large spectroscopic sample of RR Lyrae stars, this study provides a detailed analysis of the chemical and kinematic properties of the Galactic halo, revealing distinct features between the inner and outer halo components. The inner halo is dominated by a metal-rich population with extreme radial anisotropy, possibly originating from a ancient merged satellite. The outer halo shows a broad metallicity distribution with weak peaks and a uniform anisotropy value.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Hardware & Architecture
Arindam Sadhu, Kunal Das, Debashis De, Maitreyi Ray Kanjilal
Summary: This article focuses on designing low-power interconnection in QCA technology and proposes revolving door elimination techniques, a new crossover methodology, and a circuit without fixed polarized cells. The proposed methodologies show significant advantages in terms of energy efficiency, area, and energy benefits.
COMPUTERS & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yuichiro Tokoro, Tetsuya Nakagawa, Shin-ichi Yamamoto, Toshio Koizumi, Toshiyuki Oyama
Summary: The local ordering of particles in glass transition is considered important but difficult to observe experimentally at the molecular level. In this study, a glass-forming fluorophore was used to reveal changes in intermolecular arrangement and orientation through color changes in photoluminescence spectra. The results showed that the orientation in glass differs from that during crystal growth, suggesting that anisotropic interactions are valuable for uncovering molecular-level events in the glassy state.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Will T. Kaufhold, Wolfgang Pfeifer, Carlos E. Castro, Lorenzo Di Michele
Summary: The study utilizes metadynamics to sample the free energy landscapes of DNA nanostructures and demonstrates its ability to predict the mechanical response of DNA nanodevices. These findings are significant for the design and application of DNA nanostructures.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Karol Nienaltowski, Rachel E. Rigby, Jaroslaw Walczak, Karolina E. Zakrzewska, Edyta Glow, Jan Rehwinkel, Michal Komorowski
Summary: The study introduces fractional response analysis (FRA) involving fractional cell counting to deconvolute heterogeneous multivariate responses of cellular populations. Experimental results demonstrate that cellular responses to cytokines scale linearly with the log of the cytokine dose, revealing the sensitivity of cellular populations to fold-changes in the dose.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Tianhao Yan, Depeng Rao, Ye Chen, Yu Wang, Qingchuan Zhang, Shangquan Wu
Summary: Cellular behaviors can be regulated by the stiffness of the extracellular matrix, which undergoes dynamic changes in biological processes. In this study, a stiffening cell culture platform was developed using polyacrylamide-Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposite hydrogels with tunable stiffness under the application of a magnetic field. The platform provides a wide range of tunable stiffness, simulating human tissue elasticity, and facilitates the adhesion and spreading of stem cells. This platform enables the investigation of cellular response to matrix stiffening and benefits studies on dynamic biological processes.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anthony M. Mustoe, Chase A. Weidmann, Kevin M. Weeks
Summary: RNA molecules convey biological information through their sequences and structures. Chemical probing has enabled the examination of RNA structure, but per-nucleotide methods have limitations in certain cases. Recent innovations in single-molecule correlated chemical probing (smCCP) have revolutionized RNA structure analysis by directly identifying base pairing, revealing structural communication, and defining thermodynamic populations. smCCP provides unprecedented accuracy in visualizing RNA structure and opens new avenues for biophysical studies on RNA in living systems.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
K. Suresh, K. Monisha, Aseefhali Bankapur, Subha Krishna Rao, Srinivas Mutalik, Sajan D. George
Summary: This study investigates the thermal sensitivity of nanoparticles at the single particle level using optical trapping technology in biological cells, and explores the role of surface passivation layers and plasmonic particles on thermal sensitivity. The results show that bare upconverting nanoparticles (UCNP) have greater thermal relative sensitivity than UCNP@SiO2 and UCN-P@SiO2@Au particles in an aqueous medium.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Utku M. Sonmez, Stephen Coyle, Rebecca E. Taylor, Philip R. LeDuc
Article
Fisheries
Brandon Kuczenski, Camila Vargas Poulsen, Eric L. Gilman, Michael Musyl, Roland Geyer, Jono Wilson
Summary: Derelict fishing gear is a significant source of marine plastic pollution, impacting ecosystems and marine life negatively. Current studies are limited and estimates of the amount of lost fishing gear entering the ocean globally remain uncertain, highlighting the need for improved monitoring and management to reduce derelict gear.
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Brandon Kuczenski, Camila Vargas Poulsen, Eric L. Gilman, Michael Musyl, Bri Winkler, Roland Geyer
Summary: This study introduces a novel analytical framework for describing the use of fishing gear and evaluating the environmental impacts arising from fishing activities.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rudy M. Torres, Mingkang Sun, Rui Yuan, Mohamed Abdelrahman, Zhitao Guo, Tomasz Kowalewski, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Philip R. LeDuc, Shawn Litster
Summary: Recent studies indicate that using nitrogen and a controlled mesoporous structure can improve the performance of PGM-free catalysts. The copolymer-templated nitrogen-enriched carbon was utilized to prepare the catalyst, which showed good electrochemical activity and stability.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Stephen Coyle, Bryant Doss, Yucheng Huo, Hemang Raj Singh, David Quinn, K. Jimmy Hsia, Philip R. LeDuc
Summary: Cell alignment is crucial for various biological functions and tissue engineering applications. This study explores the roles of surface topographies and cell-cell interactions in inducing cell alignment. The results indicate that cell alignment depends on both surface topologies and cell confluency, suggesting the interplay between cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Understanding these mechanisms is important for scaffold design, tissue repair, and the development of biohybrid robotic systems.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Ernest Kabuye, Tess Hellebrekers, Justin Bobo, Nolen Keeys, Carmel Majidi, Jonathan Cagan, Philip Leduc
Summary: This study presents a surgical tool tracking approach that uses small scale electronics to enable real-time position capture, improving surgical planning and minimally invasive surgery. By integrating a lightweight IMU, spatial and temporal information of the surgical tool can be captured without requiring direct line-of-sight.
IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Andres Arias-Rosales, Philip R. LeDuc
Summary: As a sustainable alternative, solar energy is becoming more and more important in terms of environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and social integration. It is now more feasible to implement solar devices in urban and other complex environments, which can help meet people's energy needs and provide urban services. However, accurately and efficiently modeling shadow effects in these complex scenarios remains a challenge.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nolan Frey, Utku M. Sonmez, Jonathan Minden, Philip LeDuc
Summary: New microfluidic systems have great potential in biology research. This article discusses microfluidic tools for studying intact model organisms, describing their technical features and advantages, as well as identifying challenges and barriers to their accessibility.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Akash Garg, Saigopalakrishna S. Yerneni, Phil Campbell, Philip R. LeDuc, O. Burak Ozdoganlar
Summary: This work introduces a freeform 3D ice printing process that allows for high-speed and reproducible fabrication of ice structures with micro-scale resolution. The dimension and geometry of the structures are controlled through modulation of droplet ejection frequency and stage motions. This method enables the creation of complex geometries, overhang structures, smooth surfaces, and micro-scale features.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Phillip Won, Stephen Coyle, Seung Hwan Ko, David Quinn, K. Jimmy Hsia, Philip LeDuc, Carmel Majidi
Summary: Liquid metal embedded elastomers (LMEEs) are stretchable composites with unique properties that make them appealing for flexible electronics and soft robotics. This study investigates the biocompatibility and cell cytotoxicity of LMEE composites in contact with C2C12 cells. The influence of EGaIn volume ratio and synthesis parameters on cell proliferation and viability is examined, as well as the case of electrically-conductive LMEE composites.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Utku M. Soenmez, Nolan Frey, Jonathan S. Minden, Philip R. LeDuc
Summary: This article describes a microfluidic system developed to precisely compress whole Drosophila melanogaster embryos. The system features microchannels with deformable sidewalls, enabling alignment, immobilization, compression, and post-stimulation sample collection. By parallelizing the microchannels, hundreds of embryos can be simultaneously compressed with different patterns. The system offers high throughput, mechanical stimulation or immobilization, and automated alignment, making it useful for studying embryogenesis.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Andres Arias-Rosales, Philip R. LeDuc
Summary: As the world's population increasingly concentrates in urban areas, meeting the intense energy demand sustainably and efficiently is becoming critical. Solar harvesting technologies have the potential to transform cities into energy producers. In this study, three shadow modeling approaches that consider all anisotropic components of solar radiation are developed and demonstrated in urban scenes, providing new technological capabilities for urban solar harvesting applications.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Ernest Kabuye, Philip LeDuc, Jonathan Cagan
Summary: This study proposes a novel Mixed Reality Combination System (MRCS) that combines Augmented Reality (AR) technology and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor with 3D printed, collagen-based specimens to enhance task performance. By projecting surgeon-created virtual imagery onto a 3D printed biospecimen as AR, the MRCS allows real-time user reactions and effective task planning. In addition to surgical planning, this system can have general applications in areas such as construction, maintenance, and education.
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Andres Arias-Rosales, Philip R. LeDuc
Summary: Solar energy is expected to play an increasingly important role in urban environments due to its sustainability and cost-effectiveness. This study develops shadow modeling approaches to accurately simulate solar radiation in complex urban scenes, taking into account the anisotropic nature of diffuse shadows. The approaches are tested and compared in terms of accuracy, precision, and run-time efficiency, revealing trade-offs between these factors. The highest performing approaches are significantly faster while maintaining acceptable accuracy levels. This research contributes to the development of modeling frameworks for widespread solar harvesting in challenging human environments.
PHYSICS, SIMULATION, AND PHOTONIC ENGINEERING OF PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES XI
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Adam R. Wood, Raghav Garg, Tzahi Cohen-Karni, Alan J. Russell, Philip LeDuc
Summary: Approximately 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted or lost each year, with bread being one of the most wasted foods. Reusing wasted food in areas of need, such as water scarcity, could lead to significant sustainable outcomes. Developing carbon electrodes from food waste for desalination technologies like CDI can reduce costs and environmental impact while providing high salt adsorption capacity.
